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The type of finish you choose will depend on how you plan
to use your kitchen countertop, island top or butcher block. All
wood top finishes by DeVos Custom Woodworking have ingredients that are safe
for food contact. However, countertops that are used as cutting
surfaces are finished differently from countertops that need to be
waterproof, scratch-resistant and heat-resistant.
Waterlox®
(recommended as a permanent finish not to be used as a cutting surface)
Waterlox® is a tung oil-based permanent finish that will
stand up to hard daily use. It is ideal for countertops (especially those
around sinks and stoves), island tops, bar tops and tabletops. It’s tough,
hard, and food safe. Additionally, this finish is waterproof, heat- and
stain-resistant. It gives a rich, hand-rubbed appearance while enhancing the
grain and penetrating and sealing the wood fibers beneath the surface. The
finish will not chip, peel, crack or wrinkle. Waterlox® finishes are
available in satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. (Note: Do not chop on wood
tops with this finish; use a cutting board instead.)
All tops that are treated with Waterlox® receive a
minimum of four coats on the visible side of the top and three coats on
sides that are not visible, though six coats are typical for tops with
cut-outs for sinks or cooktops, or for satin-finish tops.
Waterlox® is an excellent finish. We use it on our own
kitchen table and on all of our cabinets. See the
Waterlox®
website for additional information.
Tung Oil/Citrus Finish
(recommended for tops used as cutting surfaces)
We highly recommend the Tung Oil/Citrus finish over the
mineral oil finish for tops that will be used as cutting surfaces. Pure tung
oil is FDA approved and non-toxic by nature. Citrus solvent, which is 98%
orange peel oil and 2% water, is added to tung oil to hasten the drying
process and deepen the penetration of the oil into the wood. The oil
penetrating into the wood makes the surface resistant to water and chemical
damage. Surfaces treated with the Tung Oil/Citrus finish have an overall
matte quality while still retaining their natural appearance.
DeVos Custom Woodworking applies four coats of the Tung Oil/Citrus finish to
ensure a well-oiled finish. Another advantage of using this finish is that
the finish only needs to be renewed about every six months to a year,
depending on usage, as opposed to a mineral oil finish that needs monthly
attention. (See our Care and
Maintenance instructions for more information).
At DeVos Custom Woodworking we do our best to provide safe products as well
as information. Tung Oil does come from the nuts of a Tung tree, thus if
you have a severe allergic reaction to nuts, we strongly recommend that you
test this product before ordering this finish.
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